Azimjon Askarov, Kyrgyzstan

2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee

(Courtesy of CNN)

Azimjon Askarov,
a Kyrgyz journalist and human rights defender whose work has exposed official wrongdoing
and abuse, is serving a life term in prison after a judicial process marred by torture, lack of evidence, and fabricated
charges.His prosecution and
conviction have been challenged by a range of human rights organizations as
well as the Kyrgyz government's own ombudsman's office.

Askarov's
articles were published on regional news websites such as Golos Svobody and Ferghana
News. His work, which has resulted in the demotion of abusive law
enforcement officers, includes investigations into the police torture of
inmates, politicized criminal prosecutions, and human rights violations during the
ethnic conflict that shook southern Kyrgyzstan in 2010.

Two days
into his reporting on the deadly clashes, Askarov was himself in police
custody, where he was repeatedly beaten
before being charged with complicity in an officer's murder and a series of
anti-state crimes. Three months later, he was sentenced
to a life term on politicized charges that included incitement to ethnic
hatred, calls to mass disorder, illegal possession of ammunition, attempt to
take hostage, and complicity in a police officer's murder. Authorities also
ordered all of his property, including his family's home, confiscated.

A CPJ
special report, based on interviews with Askarov, his lawyers, and
witnesses, has shown that no independent witnesses or material evidence were
presented in court to support the charges against him.

In 2011,
Askarov's appeal was denied. CPJ continues to call for his release.

After learning about CPJ's award on Voice of America's Uzbek service, Askarov wrote a letter of thanks. To read a translation of the full letter, click here.